PLANS to strengthen the appeal of Orchard Road, unveiled by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Wednesday (Apr 5), are the latest in a series of efforts dating back to 2019. Most are still works in progress.

Here are some of the proposals that have been announced, as well as developments already in motion.

Pedestrianisation of Orchard Road 

In 2019, STB, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board (NParks) suggested that the Orchard Road shopping experience should be enhanced with more street activities and better pedestrian connectivity.

Existing green spaces at Istana Park, Dhoby Ghaut Green and the open space at Plaza Singapura could be linked by pedestrianising a section of the road, they said.

More space could also be made available for children’s play areas, as well as flexible event venues for festivals and fashion shows.

Last September, URA and NParks told The Straits Times that upgrading works in the Dhoby Ghaut area will be completed progressively from 2025.

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Design Orchard 

Located at the junction of Orchard Road and Cairnhill Road, the two-and-a-half-storey retail and incubation space was officially opened on Jan 25, 2019.

It provides a platform for Singapore-based designers to showcase their work on the ground floor, with incubation and co-working spaces on the upper floors and a rooftop space open to the public. 

The Cathay

From August 2023, The Cathay will be temporarily closed for one and a half years for revitalisation works. All tenants are required to move out by Aug 18, with the 17-storey building on Handy Road expected to re-open in late 2024.

The Cathay houses the iconic Cathay Cineplex, which closed last June, as well as a shopping mall and private residences. The redevelopment will be its first major revamp since 2003, and will result in a new tenant mix.

Grange Road open-air car park 

In October 2019, URA, STB and the Singapore Land Authority announced that the open-air car park at Grange Road will be turned into an event space where flea markets and pop-up attractions can be held.

In June 2020, Lendlease Global Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) said it won a tender to redevelop the 48,200 sq ft space. The Reit will collaborate with Live Nation, a global live entertainment company, to create a calendar of concerts and events for the site.

In an update on Wednesday, STB said the site will accommodate 3,000 people and is expected to be ready from Q4 2024.

Tanglin and better connectivity

The Orchard Boulevard MRT station, which opened last November, further connected the sub-precinct of Tanglin to the rest of Orchard. Two new hotels, Artyzen Singapore and the Singapore Edition, are also expected to open along Cuscaden Road this year.

As part of the Orchard Road rejuvenation plans, Tanglin’s identity as a neighbourhood with a strong artisanal flavour will be strengthened, URA, STB and NParks said in 2019.

In 2019, the authorities added that mixed-use developments will be built at Orchard station in the future. These will be well-connected to Orchard Road through side streets to bring more people and buzz to the precinct.

Developer UOL also said that it plans to redevelop Faber House, located across the road from 313@somerset, into an 18-storey building that includes a 200-key hotel and food and beverage outlets. Construction works are expected to begin this month.